An Account of Reviving (Sarah Edwards, wife of Jonathan)

"While Mr. Reynolds was at prayer in the family this morning, I felt an earnest desire that, in calling on God, he should say, Father, or that he should address the Almighty under that appellation: on which the thought turned in my mind--Why can I say, Father?--Can I now at this time, with the confidence of a child, and without the least misgiving of heart, call God my Father? This brought to my mind, two lines of Mr. Erskine's Sonnet:

"I see him lay his vengeance by,
"And smile in Jesus' face."

"I was thus deeply sensible, that my sins did loudly call for vengeance; but I then by faith saw God "lay his vengeance by, and smile in Jesus' face." It appeared to be real and certain that he did so. I had not the least doubt, that he then sweetly smiled upon me, with the look of forgiveness and love, having laid aside all his displeasure towards me, for Jesus' sake; which made me feel very weak, and somewhat faint.

"In consequence of this, I felt a strong desire to be alone with God, to go to him, without having any one to interrupt the silent and soft communion, which I earnestly desired between God and my own soul; and accordingly withdrew to my chamber. It should have been mentioned that, before I retired, while Mr. Reynolds was praying, these words, in Rom. viii. 34, came into my mind "Who is he that condemneth; It is Christ that died, yea rather that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us;" as well as the following words, "Who shall separate us from the love of Christ," etc.; which occasioned great sweetness and delight in my soul. But when I was alone, the words came to my mind with far greater power and sweetness; upon which I took the Bible, and read the words to the end of the chapter, when they were impressed on my heart with vastly greater power and sweetness still. They appeared to me with undoubted certainty as the words of God, and as words which God did pronounce concerning me. I had no more doubt of it, than I had of my being. I seemed as it were to hear the great God proclaiming thus to the world concerning me; "Who shall lay any thing to thy charge," etc.; and had it strongly impressed on me, how impossible it was for any thing in heaven or earth, in this world or the future, ever to separate me from the love of God which was in Christ Jesus. I cannot find language to express, how certain this appeared--the everlasting mountains and hills were but shadows to it. My safety, and happiness, and eternal enjoyment of God's immutable love, seemed as durable and unchangeable as God himself. Melted and overcome by the sweetness of this assurance, I fell into a great flow of tears, and could not forbear weeping aloud. It appeared certain to me that God was my Father, and Christ my Lord and Savior, that he was mine and I his. Under a delightful sense of the immediate presence and love of God, these words seemed to come over and over in my mind, "My God, my all; my God, my all." The presence of God was so near, and so real, that I seemed scarcely conscious of any thing else. God the Father, and the Lord Jesus Christ, seemed as distinct persons, both manifesting their inconceivable loveliness, and mildness, and gentleness, and their great immutable love to me. I seemed to be taken under the care and charge of my God and Saviour, in an inexpressibly endearing manner; and Christ appeared to me as a mighty Saviour, under the character of the Lion of the Tribe of Judah, taking my heart, with all its corruptions, under his care, and putting it at his feet. In all things, which concerned me, I felt myself safe under the protection of the Father and the Saviour; who appeared with supreme kindness to keep a record of every thing that I did, and of every thing that was done to me, purely for my good.

For the full article:
http://xroads.virginia.edu/~MA05/peltier/conversion/pierpont2.html

"As It Pleased You" (Jonah 1:11-16)

“Wherefore they cried unto the Lord, and said, We beseech you, O Lord, we beseech you, let us not perish for this man's life, and lay not upon us innocent blood: for you, O Lord, have done as it pleased you. So they took up Jonah, and cast him forth into the sea: and the sea ceased from her raging” (vs15)

Our hope for sin is Christ DYING for us. We may want to wish that we’d never done it, we may regret it sincerely, and we may desire to change what we’ve done, even apologizing and serving others because of it. But, NONE of this takes away sin; it is faith in Jesus Christ, casting Him overboard and seeing Him punished for us, which quiets the mind. We cannot say, “It is too much. My sin is gross, it is FRESH and new, and I can’t look to Jesus Christ now, because I thought that I’d never sin again like this, and yet here I am”. Your and my sin CAN’T be too great for Christ, unless He is a weak Savior, and that won’t do. It must be God’s glory to put away sin by faith in Christ, rather than His shame that He cannot. This is a debt that He’s WILLING to pay (Luke 7:42).

I say to everyone who hears and reads this gospel: you may cast your sins upon Christ, even as the sinner came to God, putting his sins upon the head of Another, an innocent victim, that he would kill - “If his offering be a burnt sacrifice of the herd, let him offer a male without blemish: he shall offer it of his own voluntary will at the door of the tabernacle of the congregation before the Lord. And he shall put his hand upon the head of the burnt offering; and it shall be accepted for him to make atonement for him“ (Lev 1:3-4). The glory of God is to punish sins in Christ and FORGIVE the sinner. Will you be satisfied that God is PLEASED to pardon you for His sake? If so, then the storm shall be quiet, and you’ll honor Christ by the hope that He gives - “So they took up Jonah, and cast him forth into the sea: and the sea ceased from her raging. Then the men feared the Lord exceedingly, and offered a sacrifice unto the Lord, and made vows” (Jonah 1:15-16). But, remove the atonement, and there’s no hope for you: nothing else pacifies God nor can bring peace to your mind and life. You and I must BELIEVE the glory of God, rather than diminish Him because we think that we’re too clever to be forgiven (Jonah 1:13).